Saskatoon native singer-songwriters Jen Lane and John Antoniuk have recently released a duets album, Jen & John. The album is co-produced by Jen and John, and features 3 new songs written by John, 2 new songs written by Jen, and a couple of covers. “Oh My Sweet Carolina” by Ryan Adams was the first song the musical couple sang together when they met and began jamming. “Crazy Mama” by J.J. Cale (1972) was recently discovered when John got Jen a record player for Christmas last year and picked up a few old, used records. John Antonuik comes from the indie/roots side of life and Jen Lane has a more country/folk in her repertoire. The two have always kept their projects separate up until now. It was during their attendance at one of their many showcases that the industry began to buzz with the idea of a full collaboration between the songwriting couple. The result is Jen & John.
The record opens with the simple, stripped down “Give It All Away”, featuring John on lead vocals. Jen and John’s vocals complement each other and blend well together nicely. Accompanied mainly by a guitar, with very few instruments making an appearance, the song lays the focus on vocals and lyrical content. “Lost” is a soft and sweet little number, featuring Jen on lead vocals. I like Jen’s voice, there’s something very clean and country/folk about it, reminiscent of John Denver or Joan Baez. This song has a peaceful, relaxing effect on the listener. It’s a very enjoyable listen and easy on the ears. Jen and John swap the lead on “Having A Good Time”. Their harmonies are on point and you can hear the personal chemistry between the artists. These songs are soft, sweet, unencumbered by heavy production. They are simple and refreshing. “End Of The World” is like a lullaby, in regards to the soft, rolling production and the beautiful vocals.
The first cover on the record is “Oh My Sweet Carolina”, originally recorded by Ryan Adams. The two do the song complete justice, and make it their own. It’s an excellent cover and fits the record beautifully. I love their harmonies, absolutely beautiful! “Crazy Mama”, originally recorded by J.J. Cale in 1972, is the second and final cover on the record. This track features a more bluesy sound, with John taking the lead on vocals. I’ve heard one other cover of this song, a faster, swing version. I like this bluesy version best, with the harmonica and guitar. The record concludes with “The Way Home”, a slower, sweet number about finding your way back home. It’s an excellent way to close out a beautiful album.
I’d recommend this record to anyone looking for great stripped down, folk/roots music. This is the type of album you listen to for the vocals and the lyrics. It’s a quiet album that you would listen to in order to relax and just enjoy. I would definitely check this album out if I were you!
Originally posted here.
